A photo posted by Rolling Stone (@rollingstone) on 2016-05-06 22:02:30

#MelissaEtheridge set a record in 1995 when back-to-back singles – “Come to My Window” and “I’m the Only One” – stayed on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart for at least 40 weeks, yet it was still not always easy for a strong, female rock & roll musician to be celebrated for her success. But she persevered to make her dream a reality. “The music business is hard, and it’s a business,” she told Rolling Stone in 1997. “As long as you make a product that the people want and your company wants to sell, then you’ll be successful, whether you’re male or female.” Photograph by Mick Hutson